Franklin County court approves amended Humane Society contract after tense budget debate

Frankfort — Franklin County Fiscal Court voted Sept. 25 to approve an amended contract with the Franklin County Humane Society after a contentious work-session discussion about funding levels and timing.

The court considered a corrected contract that sets the Humane Society’s annual fee at $92,000 retroactive to July 1, 2024. Carrie Lowry, the Humane Society’s executive director, told the court the county had already paid $18,500, leaving $73,500 due; she said that balance would be split into three remaining quarterly payments of $24,500. County staff said the lower per-installment figure resulted from correcting a math error in the version some magistrates had received the previous day.

Magistrates framed the vote as a choice between preserving a contracted, county-provided animal-control service and other competing community priorities. Several members said they were uncomfortable with the eleventh-hour nature of the request and asked county staff to provide clearer advance notice of contract changes in future budgeting cycles. Squire Sebastian and others urged the court to identify additional funding for other priorities — including senior meal programs and youth services — in upcoming budget reviews.

Supporters of the vote said replacing the Humane Society’s contracted services would be more expensive than agreeing to the amended contract. Squire Blackburn noted that performing the county’s animal-control obligations directly would cost more than the amount the society requested.

The court asked the judge to sign and deliver the executed contract to the Humane Society immediately; magistrates also asked county counsel to make minor clarifying edits to payment‑schedule language so dates and deadlines are explicit.

Outcome and next steps: The motion to approve the amended contract (annual fee $92,000, quarterly installments of $24,500 for the remaining three payments) passed in the voting session. Magistrates said they will follow up in later meetings to look for line‑item adjustments and other revenue sources to help cover community needs that competed with this request in the current budget.

This action responds to an operational funding request from the humane society and does not itself create any new permanent levy or tax increase. The court directed staff to circulate contract exhibits, payment dates and related budget materials to the entire body to avoid similar last‑minute confusion going forward.

The vote was taken as part of the court’s Sept. 25 voting session; the judge was authorized to sign the executed agreement and deliver it to the Humane Society the same day.